Scotland will replace Bangladesh at the T20 World Cup, the ICC has confirmed.

Speculation has mounted over recent days of Bangladesh refusing to participate in the competition, which is being held in India and Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, the ICC confirmed that Bangladesh would indeed be boycotting the event, after a request for their games to be played outside of India due to safety concerns amid political tensions between the countries.

Scotland will now take Bangladesh's place. It means they will play against West Indies on February 7, and are also in the same group as England. Italy and Nepal will be their other opponents in the first round.

The updated fixtures list for the Men’s #T20WorldCup 2026

More details https://t.co/M61nOzx2fF pic.twitter.com/deynITDuV3

— ICC (@ICC) January 24, 2026

An ICC statement read: "Bangladesh will no longer compete in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to participate in the tournament per the published match schedule.

"Scotland has been called up to take Bangladesh’s place in Group C, joining England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies.

"The announcement comes after the ICC, in the absence of any credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team in India, rejected BCB’s request to move their matches from India to Sri Lanka, who are co-hosts of the tournament which commences on February 7.

"Independent security assessments were conducted from internal and external experts."

There have been reports that Pakistan may also be considering withdrawing from the tournament, with just two weeks until it begins.